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  • I Capture the Castle

  • By: Dodie Smith
  • Narrated by: Jenny Agutter
  • Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (112 ratings)

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I Capture the Castle cover art

I Capture the Castle

By: Dodie Smith
Narrated by: Jenny Agutter
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Publisher's Summary

Exclusively from Audible

In this coming of age story, Dodie Smith introduces the visionary and eccentric character of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain. The youngest daughter in a family of impoverished artists, it is her imagination and writing that takes us away from the ramshackle old English castle where they live, and towards an intriguing tale of husband-hunting and light-hearted sibling rivalry.

With the arrival of their new landlords, the impossibly handsome and wealthy American brothers, Neil and Simon Cotton, the Mortmains are roused from their stupor and moved to action. Despite developing feelings for the younger of the two brothers, Cassandra's beautiful sister, Rose, plots to marry the eldest heir in a desperate attempt to escape the poverty which surrounds her.

When Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the very first time with the same man as her sister, she explores her mixed emotions through her writing, making this a story which revels in irony and ambiguity.

A deceptively complex and intelligent story, I Capture the Castle is Smith's first published work and one which will undoubtedly and simultaneously make listeners tut, laugh and reminisce.

Narrator Biography

Jenny Agutter is a celebrated English stage, film and TV actress who was first brought to the attention of British audiences as a child, starring in East of Sudan and The Railway Children. She made her Hollywood debut in the critically acclaimed film Walkabout, in 1971, followed by Logan's Run, An American Werewolf in London and Child's Play 2.

Her TV career includes appearances on Spooks, Call the Midwife and The Man in the Iron Mask. Alongside this, Jenny is also considered one of the best classical actors of her generation and has performed with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre. She is an Emmy and BAFTA award winner and was awarded an OBE on the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours List for charitable services.

Jenny's other Audible audiobook narrations include Jane Austen's Emma, Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and E. Nesbit's The Railway Children.

©2000 Dodie Smith (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A good story, flourishing characters, and the most persuasive narrative voice." (Guardian [London])
"This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met." (J.K. Rowling)

What listeners say about I Capture the Castle

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
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A beautiful evocation of a lost England

This classic story of the transition from childhood to adulthood in an England now lost is delightfully brought to life by Jenny Agutter.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well Captured

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this old favourite by listening to this excellent production. I highly recommend it.

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Such a lovely story, and so well read by Jenny

This book has everything I love. Great story line, wonderful text, and wonderfully read by by Jenny Agutter. I was so sorry when it ended.
Enjoy this great read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Gloriously twee

So terribly English. Enid Blyton meets Wyndham Lewis. The Famous Five Survive Thanks To Yanks. Delightfully read and quite nice.

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This is my favourite book of all time

Topaz is the most beautifully crafted character ever written in any book, I love her,
This is well read in a lovely voice. Huge thumbs up from me.

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I enjoyed every minute

I’d have liked to have been more thoughtful in describing my listening experience of this book. Essentially because it deserves it. The book content and narration are both a joy!

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Captivating story

I was engrossed by this story about a girl becoming a woman, her family, their lives centred on art, being rich in imagination though poor materially, against the backdrop of a beautiful but shabby castle in England.

The author deftly describes the movements of the heart in close familial and romantic relationships of love, betrayal, tenderness, envy, heartbreak. The way that pain in unrequited love can forge a stronger more complex personality resonated with me, with its parallels to the process of artistic creation.

Beautifully narrated, the story evoked England strongly. I couldn’t wait to listen to the next chapter and now I wish it hadn’t ended!

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A Perfect Gothic Romance

I loved this book for its gentle humour, the heroine’s intelligence and naïveté, and its unashamedly romantic and literary gothic style.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great voices

Jenny Agutter does excellent voices for everyone, including Simon's distinctive "British/American" voice. Cassandra, Neil and Topaz are spot on in my opinion.

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when the tale and the teller are perfect

A dreamy tale. England is gloriously rendered as are the simmering emotions and the good humour of the characters.
The narrator is perfection too.
A wonderful story beautifully read.

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